Braves hire Chipper as a Special Assistant.

[The Chosen One]

From Braves facebook

The Atlanta Braves announced today that the club has hired former All-Star Chipper Jones as a special assistant to baseball operations. Jones will report to John Hart, president of baseball operations, and to General Manager John Coppolella.In his new capacity, Jones will attend Major League spring training as an instructor, and during the regular season he will primarily focus on assisting Braves hitters. He will also assist with amateur scouting leading up to the June draft, as well as some minor-league player evaluation and instruction.


“We are excited to bring Chipper on board as a special assistant,” Coppolella said. “He brings a wealth of experience – from being a number one overall draft pick, to having a highly-successful career as a World Series champion, a league MVP and a batting champion, to coming back from major injuries. Chipper spent his entire Hall-of-Fame caliber career in a Braves uniform and we look forward to his input with our staff and with our hitters.”


“After a few years of decompressing, I came to the undeniable conclusion that I want to be around the game again and, more particularly, around the Atlanta Braves,” Jones said. “Because of what we are in the process of building for this city and our fan base, I am extremely excited to be dipping my toe back into the water that is Braves baseball. I look forward to working with our players, as my passion for the art of hitting is something I hold near and dear to my heart. My hope is that I can be an ‘extra set of eyes’ on our players and help supplement an already strong baseball operations department and coaching staff. I am honored to be back working with the Braves.”

[The Chosen One]

Just for the record, Glavine is a special assistant.

Is McGriff an assistant with us, or was that just a one-time spring training roving instructor gig?
Blauser?
Smoltz?
Javy?

[UNCBlue012]

I'm just glad he's back with us. I think it will be really big for the young guys.

[MadduxFanII]

I'm just glad he's back with us. I think it will be really big for the young guys.

"No, no, no, Hector, your hands are all wrong. How many times do I have to tell you? Put your dominant hand in the small of her back, then gently- GENTLY- place your non-dominant hand in her hair. If you can't kiss a woman, how are you ever going to hit .300 in this league?"

[50PoundHead]

"No, no, no, Hector, your hands are all wrong. How many times do I have to tell you? Put your dominant hand in the small of her back, then gently- GENTLY- place your non-dominant hand in her hair. If you can't kiss a woman, how are you ever going to hit .300 in this league?"

Hopefully he won't conduct any team meetings at Hooter's.

[Knucksie]

Have the usual suspects gotten over the fact that he picked the Dodgers to win that series?

[Javyz1fan]

First time I have actually gotten truly excited about a Braves related piece of news in a long while. Glad he's back, hope it does lead to him being hitting coach later down the road.

[Dalyn]

Great news.

[kingphatcow]

Chipper's never been much of a wordsmith, has he?

[mossy]

Chipper's never been much of a wordsmith, has he?

No, but neither is Fredi...

[Runnin]

Chipper's never been much of a wordsmith, has he?

Compared to what? By the end of his career he was one of the most articulate and intelligent voices in the game. If he does nothing but help our new GM talk to the media it will be a huge win.

“After a few years of decompressing, I came to the undeniable conclusion that I want to be around the game again and, more particularly, around the Atlanta Braves,” Jones said. “Because of what we are in the process of building for this city and our fan base, I am extremely excited to be dipping my toe back into the water that is Braves baseball. I look forward to working with our players, as my passion for the art of hitting is something I hold near and dear to my heart. My hope is that I can be an ‘extra set of eyes’ on our players and help supplement an already strong baseball operations department and coaching staff. I am honored to be back working with the Braves.”

[kingphatcow]

Articulate? Not so much.

He wrote a masterpiece with the baseball bat. But when he talks, it's clear he's CONSTANTLY half-lit. It's all good, though. I don't expect my ballplayers to be philosophers. Or sober. One of the greatest hitters of my generation, so I couldn't care less if he's on the sauce.

[GovClintonTyree]

Compared to what? By the end of his career he was one of the most articulate and intelligent voices in the game. If he does nothing but help our new GM talk to the media it will be a huge win.

“After a few years of decompressing, I came to the undeniable conclusion that I want to be around the game again and, more particularly, around the Atlanta Braves,” Jones said. “Because of what we are in the process of building for this city and our fan base, I am extremely excited to be dipping my toe back into the water that is Braves baseball. I look forward to working with our players, as my passion for the art of hitting is something I hold near and dear to my heart. My hope is that I can be an ‘extra set of eyes’ on our players and help supplement an already strong baseball operations department and coaching staff. I am honored to be back working with the Braves.”

One of the few guys not to speak in clichés. He was an honest guy with a lot of insight and humor.

I liked when they were fetéing Bobby on his 162nd ejection and they asked Chipper if he had any favorites. Chip breaks into a big grin and says, "Yeah, I put the tag down on <player> and Hunter Wendelstedt, whose dad Harry was a great umpire, called him safe. This was either Hunter's first or second year. Bobby comes out, guns blazing, says a few things. Hunter walks away. Bobby tells him, 'Hunter, you're not fit to be a pimple on your daddy's <ass>.' Hunter turns around, throws him out. I couldn't help it. I busted out laughing."

See? That's better than, "well, hoping I can get lucky, maybe help the ballclub."

Also, I remember when Heyward had a big surge it was Chipper's doing, and DOB asked him what they were working on. And instead of some stock answer, Chipper told him. He said hitting consists of five hinges. Your torso is a hinge. Your hands are another....he went through his thesis, and the short of it was that two of the five hinges in Heyward's swing were frozen and it was costing him power. It was one of the most thoughtful discourses I'd ever heard on hitting, and it came from Chipper.

The guy knows what he's doing and I think he can teach it.

[goldfly]

Chipper's never been much of a wordsmith, has he?

well, he is a redneck hunting republican from north florida that believes in conspiracy theories

are you surprised?

[NYCBrave]

Seems like a good move to ease him in the door and get him ready for the full time batting coach position when it becomes available. I like it.

[BedellBrave]

well, he is a redneck hunting republican from north florida that believes in conspiracy theories

are you surprised?

Wonder what he hunts Rednecks with?

[smootness]

Love the fact that he'll be working on some instruction...not as jazzed about him doing some scouting work. I hope this is the beginnings of an eventual move to full-time hitting coach.

[bravesfanMatt]

Love the fact that he'll be working on some instruction...not as jazzed about him doing some scouting work. I hope this is the beginnings of an eventual move to full-time hitting coach.

He will still be at the kiddie table when it comes to the scouting meetings.. They may just want him there for his connections at Hooters.. he probably has some discounts there..

[The Chosen One]

He will still be at the kiddie table when it comes to the scouting meetings.. They may just want him there for his connections at Hooters.. he probably has some discounts there..

I know you're new here, but keep the restaurant references with Chipper to a minimum.

He actually lurks here, here and there.

[bravesfanMatt]

I know you're new here, but keep the restaurant references with Chipper to a minimum.

He actually lurks here, here and there.

Can I say that I heard he is going to be running the teams Twitter account then?!?